All types of social engagement were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among Korean older adults, with employment status serving as an effect modifier such that employed older adults generally showed a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms compared to their unemployed counterparts.
Key Findings
Results
All types of social engagement were significantly associated with reduced depressive symptoms in Korean older adults aged 65 and older.
The analytic sample consisted of 199,205 adults aged 65 years and older from the Korea Community Health Survey conducted biennially from 2017 to 2023 (excluding 2021).
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Associations were examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Social engagement was categorized as informal and formal engagement across all subgroups.
Results
The strongest associations between social engagement and reduced depressive symptoms were observed for contact with friends and participation in leisure or recreational activities.
Among all types of social engagement examined, friend contact and leisure/recreational activity participation showed the largest effect sizes.
Both informal engagement (e.g., friend contact) and formal engagement (e.g., leisure/recreational activities) were included in the analysis.
These associations were identified through multivariable logistic regression controlling for relevant covariates.
Results
Employment status served as an effect modifier of the relationship between social engagement and depressive symptoms.
Employed older adults generally showed a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms compared to their unemployed counterparts.
The moderating role of employment was examined across all social engagement subgroups.
Employment status was considered as a potential mechanism through which social engagement is sustained in later life.
The study notes that the impact of employment on mental health can vary depending on job quality and socioeconomic conditions.
Results
The negative association between employment and depressive symptoms was particularly pronounced in the domains of friend contact and all types of formal social engagement.
Among the social engagement domains examined, friend contact and formal social engagement showed the most notable interaction with employment status.
Formal social engagement included structured participation such as leisure or recreational activities.
Unemployed older adults showed comparatively higher likelihood of depressive symptoms, especially in these domains.
Conclusions
The study highlights promoting formal social engagement as a potential intervention strategy for preventing depression among Korean older adults.
The authors emphasize the need to consider appropriate forms of employment as part of depression-prevention strategies.
Continued employment in later life is identified as a key mechanism for sustaining social engagement.
The findings are based on a large nationally representative sample of 199,205 adults aged 65 and older in South Korea.
Data were drawn from the Korea Community Health Survey, a biennial survey conducted from 2017 to 2023 (excluding 2021).
What This Means
This research suggests that staying socially active is linked to fewer symptoms of depression among older adults in South Korea, and that having a job in later life may strengthen this benefit. The study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 adults aged 65 and older collected over multiple years, and found that all forms of social engagement — whether informal (like keeping in touch with friends) or formal (like joining leisure or recreational groups) — were associated with lower rates of depressive symptoms. The strongest protective effects were seen for friend contact and participation in organized leisure or recreational activities.
The study also found that whether a person was employed made a difference in how strongly social engagement was linked to mental health. Employed older adults were generally less likely to report depressive symptoms than those who were not working, and this difference was especially notable when it came to friend contact and organized social activities. This suggests that employment may help older adults maintain social connections and structured engagement, which in turn may support their mental well-being.
This research suggests that programs encouraging older adults to participate in formal social activities — such as community groups or recreational clubs — could be an important tool for reducing depression in aging populations. It also points to the potential mental health value of supporting appropriate employment opportunities for older adults, while acknowledging that job quality and individual socioeconomic circumstances matter in determining whether work is truly beneficial.
Lee J, Kim S, Lee J, Hong Y, Lee K, Min H. (2026). Social engagement and depressive symptoms in Korean older adults: The potential moderating role of employment status.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342299